Unbeaten CES Boxing and Worcester, MA, prospect Jamaine Ortiz earned his biggest win to date Saturday night on ESPN, out-working and out-classing ex-Olympian and former world champion Jamel Herring via unanimous decision, 96-64 (judge Chris Migliore), and 97-93 twice (Max DeLuca and David Sutherland), at Resorts World Event Center to defend his NABF lightweight title and add the USBA crown to his résumé.
Ranked No. 18 in the WBC entering the weekend, Ortiz is now 16-0-1 after beating Herring and primed for the next big step in his career at time when the lightweight division is as competitive as its been in decades.
In two weeks, reigning WBC world champion Devin Haney faces WBA, IBF, and WBO champion George Kambosos in Australia, which will no doubt further establish the hierarchy at 135 pounds. Once on the peripheral, Ortiz is now part of the conversation and a legitimate contender following Saturday’s eye-opening win on the undercard of the Janibek Alimkhanuly-Danny Dignum bout promoted by Top Rank Boxing in association with CES.
Ortiz, 26, did exactly what he intended to do Saturday night. He threw 167 more punches than the 36-year-old Herring, landed 71 more, including 54 to the body, and did his best work in the later rounds as Herring ran out of steam. Rounds 9 and 10 were Ortiz at his peak as he more than doubled Herring’s output over the final six minutes.
A world champion at 130 pounds, Herring fought at lightweight Saturday for the first time in five years, none of which mattered against the younger, sharper Ortiz, who began the fight in a southpaw stance and switched throughout the night.
After a slow start, “The Technician” began to get his feet wet in Round 2 when he stunned Herring with a straight right hand that stunned the ex-champ in the closing seconds. Herring immediately answered with an impressive third round, but began to slow considerably in the second half of the fight, allowing Ortiz to take control.
